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WPJX

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Coordinates: 42°27′19″N 87°54′3″W / 42.45528°N 87.90083°W / 42.45528; -87.90083
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by NiklasEkstrom (talk | contribs) at 02:39, 20 April 2020 (The correct format on WPJX is: Heavy Metal. The station is NOT Active Rock. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/171011/rebel-radio-returns-to-chicago-suburbs/). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

WPJX
Broadcast areaLake County, IL
Kenosha County, WI
Frequency1500 kHz
BrandingRebel Radio
Programming
FormatHeavy Metal
Ownership
OwnerPolnet Communications, Ltd.
WKTA, WEEF, WNVR
History
First air date
September 19, 1967 (as WZBN)
Former call signs
WDDZ (1998-2001)
WTAU (1996-1998)
WKGA (1987-1996)
WRJR (1984-1987)
WNIZ (1983-1984)
WKZN (197?-1983)
WZBN (1967-197?)
Technical information
Facility ID49293
ClassD
Power250 watts day
2 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
42°27′19″N 87°54′3″W / 42.45528°N 87.90083°W / 42.45528; -87.90083
Translator(s)92.5 W223CN (Zion)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websiterebelradio.com

WPJX (1500 AM) is a radio station, licensed to Zion, Illinois, that airs a Heavy Metal format.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). The station was originally owned by the Zion-Benton Broadcasting Company.[1]

The station was once co-owned with WKZN 96.9 (later WNIZ and now WWDV) and had studios in downtown Zion during this period.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s the station aired an MOR-Adult Contemporary format and held the callsign WKZN, simulcasting the programming of WKZN-FM 96.9.[2][3]

In 1983, the station's callsign was changed to WNIZ, and the station began airing a classical music format, simulcasting the programming of its sister stations WNIZ 96.9 and WNIB 97.1.[4][5] In 1984, Lake County Broadcasting Co. purchased the station from Northern Illinois Broadcasting Co. for $200,000.[6] On December 1, 1984, the station's callsign was changed to WRJR.[7]

On December 1, 1987, the station's callsign was changed to WKGA.[7] As WKGA, the station aired a Spanish music format and was branded "Radio Borinquen".[8][1]

On November 7, 1994, WKGA adopted a Classic Country format.[9][10][1] In early 1996, the station was sold to Lotus Communications Corporation for $210,000,[11] and it adopted a Regional Mexican format, simulcasting the programming of sister station 1300 WTAQ.[12] On June 24, 1996, the station's callsign was changed to WTAU.[7]

In 1998, the station was sold to ABC Radio,[13] and on July 16, 1998, the station became an affiliate of Radio Disney along with its sister station WTAQ.[14][15] On December 3, 1998, the station's callsign was changed to WDDZ.[7] The station continued to simulcast Radio Disney with its sister station WRDZ until it was taken off the air on January 14, 2000.[16][13]

A short-lived LMA to the owners of WBJX Racine, WI (now WJTI) brought the station back on the air in January 2001 simulcasting WBJX and airing its own Regional Mexican music.[17][18][19][13] On May 16, 2001, the station's callsign was changed to WPJX.[7] The station again signed off the air in October 2001.[13] It returned to the air permanently in spring 2002 first with its previous format, a simulcast of Radio Disney station WRDZ La Grange.

In 2002, Multicultural Broadcasting of Chicago, Inc. purchased the station from ABC, Inc. for $70,000.[20][21][13] Under Multicultural's ownership it aired an oldies format.[22]

In 2006, Polnet bought the station from Multicultural Broadcasting for $230,000.[23][24][25] When Polnet bought the station, it switched to a Spanish-language reggaeton format.[26][27] In February 2009, the Heavy Metal[28][29] format "Rebel Radio" began airing full-time on the station.[30] "Rebel Radio" was replaced by a syndicated Spanish format in mid-February 2011.[28][31]

On October 1, 2018 at 12:00 Noon, WPJX changed format to Heavy Metal after an 8 year hiatus.[32][29][33] During the first day back, Rebel Radio aired only the "Big 4" thrash metal bands: Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer.

References

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference ValleyVoices was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Illinois Media", Midwest Newsclip, Inc., (1982). p. 169
  3. ^ "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 37. Accessed August 8, 2015
  4. ^ Call Letters - Grants, Broadcasting, August 8, 1983. p. 80. Accessed August 8, 2015
  5. ^ "Illinois Media '84/'85", Midwest Newsclip, (1984). p. 143
  6. ^ For the Record - Ownership Changes, Broadcasting, August 13, 1984. pp. 74-75 Accessed August 8, 2015
  7. ^ a b c d e Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Accessed August 7, 2015
  8. ^ "Chicagoland Radio Waves: Your Complete Guide to Local Radio", Media Ties, Summer 1988. Accessed August 7, 2015
  9. ^ Feder, Robert. "Oprah's Ex-Publicist Keeps Mum for Now", Chicago Sun-Times. November 3, 1994. p. 49.
  10. ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 11, No. 45. November 9, 1994. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Feder, Robert. "Three Radio Groups Control Lion's Share", Chicago Sun-Times. February 6, 1996. p. 29.
  12. ^ "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 13, No. 5. February 1, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e Feder, Robert. "ABC Radio selling Zion station for second time", Chicago Sun-Times. June 18, 2002. p. 55.
  14. ^ "Getting Kids To Listen", Chicago Tribune, August 21, 1998. Accessed August 7, 2015
  15. ^ Feder, Robert. "Love ya, love the show, but hate the hypocrisy", Chicago Sun-Times. July 8, 1998. p. 55.
  16. ^ Application Search Details – BLSTA-20001012ACB, fcc.gov. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  17. ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 05. January 31. 2001. p. 2. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  18. ^ "Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 05. January 31. 2001. p. 6. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  19. ^ Feder, Robert. "Ramblin' Ray Stevens out in US-99 shakeup", Chicago Sun-Times. January 30, 2001. p. 43.
  20. ^ Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov, July 24, 2002. Accessed August 7, 2015
  21. ^ Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, fcc.gov, May 9, 2002. Accessed August 7, 2015
  22. ^ The M Street Radio Directory. Thirteenth Edition. 2004-2005. p. 208. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  23. ^ Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov, March 21, 2006. Accessed August 7, 2015
  24. ^ Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, fcc.gov, November 10, 2005. Accessed August 7, 2015
  25. ^ Feder, Robert. "Brandmeier's contract already paying dividends", Chicago Sun-Times. January 18, 2006. p. 75.
  26. ^ Feder, Robert. "Reggaeton newcomer on Spanish radio lineup", Chicago Sun-Times. May 25, 2006. p. 59.
  27. ^ Feder, Robert. "New Spanish station gets seasoned manager", Chicago Sun-Times. June 8, 2006. p. 61.
  28. ^ a b Rebel Radio - About Us
  29. ^ a b "Rebel Radio Returns To Chicago Suburbs", Radio Insight. October 5, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  30. ^ "Media: October 2009", Illinois Entertainer. September 30, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  31. ^ "Rebel Radio Rides Again", Chicagoland Radio and Media, February 27, 2011. Accessed August 8, 2015
  32. ^ "News Bites: '101.9 PINK,' WBEZ, 'Rebel Radio,' WIP-FM", InsideRadio. October 4, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  33. ^ Feder, Robert. "Robservations: Chuck Schaden returns for 'Those Were the Days' milestone", RobertFeder.com. October 4, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
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